Where does your interest in medicine come from?

I’m one of those people who always wanted to be a doctor—even when I was very young. I was the kid who put ace bandages on my dolls.

How did you become interested in pediatric cancer care and research?

After completing my undergraduate degree, I went to grad school, where I became involved in some very fascinating cancer research. That introduction sparked my interest in this field. During that time, I volunteered at a pediatric hospital—which was a very significant experience for me. The vast majority of kids I met in the hospital were there for chemotherapy or for other oncology issues. That connected me to pediatrics, and this disease process, instantly. When I started medical school, I knew early on what I wanted to do.

You bring a strong personal focus to your patient care. Where does that come from?

I grew up with a mom who was a people person and I think that’s just who I am, too. By virtue of being my mother’s daughter, I find it very easy to connect with families. I also feel personally driven to do everything I can to help these kids get and stay healthy. It’s always a very difficult time for families when children are initially diagnosed, but we often underestimate how resilient children can be. I find meaning in guiding families through those moments and giving them hope. During those times, we share so much together. For that reason, it’s easy to become very close with the families I see.

How did you decide to stay with University of Minnesota Health following your fellowship?

Though I’m passionate about patient care, I still wanted my career to include scientific research. I’m particularly interested in new cellular therapies for cancer—which includes emerging immunotherapies such as CAR T-cell therapy. I want to bring those therapies to kids and families I see—to ensure that they have access to the latest and most effective treatment options. University of Minnesota Health allows me to perform that type of research while also seeing patients at University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital.

Our pediatrics program is part of a larger network called the Children’s Oncology Group, an international network of pediatric cancer experts and researchers. Through that group we have greater access to innovative clinical trials for our patients. For that reason, I have helped bring some new immune modulating therapies to our patients that are not yet widely available. Many of the patients who receive these new options have already exhausted traditional treatment approaches, including chemotherapy. We have seen some promising results with some of the new therapies that we offer through clinical trials.

What does the future hold?

There’s a lot on the horizon. We are taking cancer treatment beyond traditional chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. I hope to take a leadership here in bringing those new options to our pediatric patients. It’s exciting to imagine the innovative therapy possibilities that may one day become the standard of care. What we’re seeing now is just the tip of the iceberg.

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